Blow-out preventer



Nov. 12, 1935. P. KINNEAR 2,021,104

BLOW-OUT PREVENTER 'Filed Aug. 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 8 I INVENTOR78 f MKM Nov. 12, 1935. 1.. P. KINNEAR BLOW-OUT PREVENTER Filed Aug. 26,1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTO'R 7 W P WW 8 Nov. 12, I935. L. P.KINNEAR 2,021,104

BLOW-OUT PREVENTER F iled Aug. 26. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVE/VTUR Nov. 12, 1935.

L. P. KINNEAR BLOW-OUT PREVENTER Filed Aug. 26, 19:53 s sh ew-sneet 4INVENTOR M Nov. 12, 1935. P..KINNEAR BLOW-OUT PREVENTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Aug. 26, 1933 J 4 3 3 9 W// 3 -.:.::::::.25.15:?2:5: w 1 v 3 l O aPatented Nov. 12,- 1935 BLOW-OUT PREVENTER Leland P. Kinnear, Beaumont,Tex.

Application Alllult 26, 1933, Serial No. 686,919

' 20 Olalms. ((1 255-1) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in a blow-out preventer for cappingof! gas pressuresencountered during the course of drilling wells by the rotary system,particu- 5 larly, oil and gas wells.

An object of the invention is to provide a blowout preventer apparatusto be attached to a well casing wherein the well casing. may be used asa support therefor and drill bits attached to drill tube, sections maybe passed therethru and rotated in drilling a well.'

Another object of the invention is to provide a blow-out preventerapparatus of the above type whereby members arranged therein may be em-5; ployed to form a seal about a drill tube section and hermeticallyseal-off high pressures within a well hole and control the same withvalves attached to said apparatus toregulate the return fluid-flowdirected thru said drill tube sections and drill bits under pressure incombating a gas pressure encountered by the drill bit in the well hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blow-out preventerapparatus of the above'type i. whereby members within said apparatus arearranged to grip a drill tube sectiontherein and form a seal thereaboutand rotate therewith, while fluid under pressure may .be directed thrusaid drill tube sections and drill bits attached thereto the well holebeing completely sealed-ofi and means to regulate the return flow ofsaid fluid under pressure used in combating volatfle gas pressuresencountered by the drill bit in the I well hole.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be morefully disclosed in the drawings, which show by way of illustration oneembodiment of the invention, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical side viewpartly sectional of the blow-out preventer apparatus attached to thewell casing, showing the drill tube sections in drilling position thrusaid blow-out preventer apparatus and well casing with the wedge blocksealing members in aninoperative position and I the discharge line andvalve open showing the course of the drilling fluid under pressuredirected thru the drill tube sections and the return fluid flow aboutthe exterior thereof and within the well hole passing upwardly to theearth's surface to outlet thru discharge line and valve con-'- nection;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, showing the wedge block sealingmembers in operative posii tion about a drill tube section with valve indischarge line closed completely sealing-oil the well hole:

Fig.3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig.4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of 5 Fig. 5 is .a section takenon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of 10 Fig. 7 is a section takenon the line 1-1 of 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of equalizer; Fig. .9 is a vertical side view ofa guide arm: Fig. 10 is a detail view of an actuating arm; 16

Fig. 11 is a top view of washer showing bifurcated extensions for guidearm connections. The invention is directed to a blow-out preventerapparatus to be used as a safety device in connection with drillingwells, particularly oil 80 and gas wells. The structure includes a shellwhich is attached to a well casing member cemented in the earth, to beknown hereinafter as the well casing, however, it is understood thatsaid shell may be attached to any casing mem- Q5 ber which forms asupport therefor and usually protrudes above the earths surface,saidsheli containing a revolvable body seated therein with a centralvertical opening therethru, said opening in alignment with the openingin a casing=80 member to permit drill tube sections and drill bits topass therethru into the well hole. The

revolvable body carries tapered wedge block members which movelongitudinally and laterallyalong the inner surfaces of a conical sec-85 ticnof said opening in said revolvable body and seat therein to forma seal about a drill tube section present within said revolvable body.Each wedge block has flexible packing members, preferably rubber, whoseinner faces conform to the to outer periphery of a drill tube sectionand whose outer tapered faces conform to the inner periphery of theconical shaped section of the opening in said revolvable body. Byapplying pressure to said wedge block members by means of 4 levers andactuating arms together with an upward lift on the drill tube sections aseal may be formed about said drill tube section and. the wedge blockmembers hermetically seal said opening in the revolvable body. A wellknown 50 back-pressure valve may be used within the drill tube sectionsto allow fluid under pressure to pass downwardly therethru, but willresist any upward pressure so that when the wedge block members aremoved to form a seal exteriorly of 56 the drill tube section the wellholemay be completely sealed-off by closing a valve provided in adischarge line in the shell attached to the well casing. Guide arms areconnected to said wedge blocks by pins which allow the guide arms topivot and work upwardly and laterally thru slots in the bottom ofsaidrevolvable body, said guide arms being connected at the lower end toan annular washer by pins to allow the guide arms to pivot thereon. Theannular washer rests on rollers attached to actuating arms, saidactuating arms and rollers positively force said annular washer, guidearms and wedge blocks upwardly in response to turning of shaftingsattached to said actuating arms, said shaft assembly being 'operated byupright levers. The shafts to which said actuating arms are connectedare disposed thru packing glands and journal boxes horizontally in thesides of the shell and protrude outwardly in opposite directions andprovided with suitable upright lever arms for applying hand pressure ormechanical force to actuatethe same. The lever arms also workequalizers, centrally positioned within said shell, simultaneously withthe working of the actuating arms so that n the drill tube sections willbe centrally positioned within said shell during the ascension of thewedge blocks to insure the free movement of the same to their sealedposition around said drill tube section. The revolvable body is seatedon an annular shoulder within the shell and is provided with rollerbearings at its top which work against a cap attached to,the top of saidshell. The revolvable body is also provided with roller bearings,annular metal packing rings above said roller bearings, a series ofannular rings of packing above said annular metal packing ring all ofwhich are positioned on the outer surface of said revolvable body andseated on an annular shoulder thereof and which may be adjusted by studbolts so positioned in the cap above another annular steel ring abovesaid rings of packing so as to adjust the packing to prevent the escapeof fluid or gas pressures between said revolvable body and said shell.The top and bottom sections of the wedge blocks are steel while thecenter sections thereof are flexible packing members, preferably rubber.The sections are bolted together with tie bolts so as to allow thebottom steel section of each wedge block to move slid ably upward sothat when said top and center sections of each wedge block reach their1mm.- in

their upward ascension in surrounding a drill tube section, the bottomsteel section of each wedge block may move upward against the centerrubber section of each wedge block by pressure applied below by theactuating arms, washer and guide arms and if necessary by the aid of ashoulder on a coupling of the drill tube section by an upward lift onthe drill tube sections, thus said center rubber sections are positivelyexpanded to form a seal surrounding said drill tube section and to sealsaid opening in said revolvable body. The drill tube sections and drillbit attached thereto may be rotated by a turn-table in the well knownmanner of the rotary system of drilling and thus impart rotation to therevolvable body, wedge blocks, guide arms and annular washer all as oneunit with the wedge blocks gripping said drill tube section about acommon axis and remaining constant thereabout and sealing said openingin the revolvable body." The drill tube sections are rotated to preventthe drill under pressure to mud-off the walls of the well 5 hole tocombat the gas pressure, the valve may be used to regulate the returnflow f the fluid to the earths surface and discharge thru the outletprovided therefor. To continue drilling after having mudded-ofi the wallin the gas area m by fluid under pressure directed thru the drill tubesections and drill bits the valve may be completely opened and the drilltube sections lowered which will force the wedge blocks downwardly to anunsealed position, thus the drill 15 tube sections and drill bits may befed forward without obstruction from the blow-out preventer apparatusuntil further needed.

It is thought that the invention will be better understoodby a detaildescription of the present 20 embodiment thereof. n

Fig. 1 shows the blow-out preventer apparatus. attached by its lower endto a. well casing member I, that is cemented in the earth. The cement 2,is provided to form a support for the well casing 25 members. The earthssurface is indicated at 3. The casing l, is provided with an opening la,substantially larger than the drill tube section and the drill bits tobe inserted therethru. A flange section 4, is provided to be attached tothe well g casing member with central opening 4a, consistent withopening la, in the casing member and the central opening 6a of the lowerend of the shell 6, packing 5 being inserted between flange members andbolts I and nuts 8 are used to secure 35 said flange members together.Tube sections 9, couplings 9a and Kelley joint 9b comprise a drill stemto which drill bits are attached, said drill stem and drill bits beingrotated and fed forward by the well known rotary system of drilling. A40 revolvable body ll seats on an annular shoulder ill in the shell 6and is retained therein by cap I! which is screwed to the top of saidshell. The bottom of revolvable body H has a central vertical openingIla provided for the free passage of drill 5 tube sections and drillbits therethru. The cap 16 has an opening consistent with the centralvertical opening Ilb in said revolvable body II and said opening 6a inthe bottom of shell 6 and the opening la in the casing member. Ballbearings I9 50 i are seated in annular race |9a in top of revolvablebody II and race against the'bottom of cap IS. The annular rubberpacking rings l4 around revolvable body I I are used topack-ofl. fluidsor pressures between the revolvable body and the inner 55 face of shell6, said rubber packing rings I4 being adjustable by an annular metalpacking ring I! with the adjustment stud bolts I I, provided to contactsaid metal packing ring I5 which tightens the rubber packing ringsbetween another metal ring 60 I50. therebelow. Ball bearings l2 aremounted below the metal packing ring l5a and race on the shoulder l3 ofrevolvable body ll.

. Cap I6 is provided with an oil course l8 thru which to lubricate theball bearings l9, said oil 65 course having a plug [8a. Bars 2 l--2| arepassed thru holes in lugs 20a--20a, located at the top of cap i6, saidbars also pass thru holes 2 I a-2 la in the top of the rim of shell 6 toprevent cap l6 from unscrewing. Pins 2lI--20 are inserted in lugs20a--20a and into bars 2 l--2l to positively hold said bars to said cap.

Guide arms 23, (three in number) are connected between bifurcatedextensions 21a to each bottom steel section 21 of wedge blocks 28 (three76 revolvable body I I while wedge blocks are moving to their sealed andunsealed positions. Central opening 24b in washer 24 is provided toallow drill bits and drill tube sections to pass therethru, also thereturn fluid flow that carries the cuttings to the outlet in dischargeline 36 and thru valve 35 andvalve gate 350, as indicated by arrowsshowing course of fluid in Fig. 1.

Wedge blocks 28, (three in number) are composed of top steel sections25, center rubber sections 26 and bottom steel sections 21, saidsections being slidably mounted on tiebolts 28a secured by nuts 28b tohold said sections of each wedge block member together. The conicalshaped opening 29 in revolvable body H is so constructed to limit theupward movement of the wedge block members and is a seat for said wedgeblock members in forming a seal about a drill tube section.

Actuating arms 30-30 carry rollers Nib-40b on bearings Mid-30d and saidrollers are held by nuts Mia-30a. The actuating arms and rollers aresubstantially in horizontal position and rest on sleeves 33-33 when thewedge block members are in retarded unsealed position as shown in Fig.l, with washer 24 resting on rollers 3llb-3lib. The washer 24 is raisedby actuating arms3Ii-3Il to substantially vertical position in raisingsaid wedge block members 28 in sealed position around a drill tubesection as shown in Fig. 2, and upon rotation of the drill tubesections, the wedge block members, revolvable body, guide arms andwasher rotate as one unit, said washer may impart rotation to therollers 3ilb-30b and race on top of said roller while being rotated.Pressure may be applied to said actuating arms and rollers by shafts34-34 joined by shafts 3lc-3i'c when turned by volvable body and a drilltube section.

The equalizers 32-32 are centrally positioned.

on squared sections 340-341: of shafts 34-34 within the shell 6, saidequalizers provided with concave faces 32a-32a to contact a drill tubesection and force the drill tube sections in central position withinsaid shell by means of turning the shafts 3lc-3ic and 34-34 by leverarms 3l-3i. The equalizers move inwardly and upwardly simultaneouslywith the wedge block members and are actuated by the same shafts andlevers thereby enabling the wedge block members to move freely to theirsealed position as the equalizers have centrally positioned the drilltube sections in advance to the wedge block members having reached theirsealed position.

The shafts 34-34 have reduced squared sections 34c-34c passing thrusquared sockets 30c- 300 of actuating arms 30-30 and thru squaredsockets 32b-32b of equalizers and thru squared sockets 33b-33b ofsleeves 33-33, said squared portions of said shafts 34-34 control thesquared socketed members above-named and impart positive movement tosaid socketed members when said shafts 34-34 joined by shafts 3Ic-3lcare turned by upright lever arms 3l-3l. Squared sockets 3lb-3i b ofshafts 3lc-3lc are adapted 'to receive squared sections 34e-34e ofshafts 34- 34, said sockets being coupled by pins 34w-34a thru shafts34c-34c and into countersunk holes 34f-34f of squared sections ale-34cof shafts 34-34 as shown in Fig. 7. Thrusts 3411-3411 of shafts 34-34are held in shell 8 by bushings 31-31 which are screwed into said shell,said bushings being provided with packing glands to 5 receive rubberpacking rings 38-38 around said shafts 34-34, said packing being held insaid glands by bushings 39-39 which are screwed into bushings 31-31. Thesleeves 33-33 rest in journal boxes 330-330. to form a support forshafts 10 34-34 in shell 6, as shown in Fig. 7.

t It will be apparent from the above description that a very simplemeans has been provided whereby levers and mechanisms may be utilizedfor actuating the wedge block members within a 16 revolvable body and touse said wedge block members to form a seal about a drill tubesectionand, seal-off a well hole to resist high pressures which areoften-encountered in the drilling of a well. A safety device such asprovided herein 20.

with positive locking means to grip a drill tube section and form a sealthereabout and being capable of being rotated therewith in said lockedsealed position is of extreme importance in preventing the drill tubesections from becomins 25 fast in the earth as aresult of the heavingformations breaking down the walls of the well hole from gas blow-outsand also to prevent the drill tube sections from being blown from thewell.

It is obvious that many changes in the details 301 of construction andarrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the'spiritof v the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

ble body'seated in said shell, a race in said .re-

volvable body, ball bearings provided for said 40 race, a cap attachedto said shell to positively hold said revolvable body within said shell,oil courses in said cap to lubricate said ball bearings, said revolvablebody having annular packing rings on the outer periphery thereof mountedon an annular steel ring, said steel ring mounted on ball bearings, saidball bearings being mounted on an outer shoulder of said revolvablebody, another steel ring above said annular packing rings, stud boltsfor adjusting s aid packing rings, said shell, cap, revolvable body andwell casing having openings for the free passage of drill bits and drilltube sections therethru.

2. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a revolvable body seated in said shell, a race in saidrevolvable body, ball bearings provided for said race, a cap attached tosaid shell to positively hold said revolvable body within said shell,oil courses in said cap to lubricate said ball bearings, said revolvablebody having annular packing rings on the outer periphery thereof mountedon an annular steel ring, said steel ring mounted on ball bearings, saidball bearings being mounted on an outer shoulder of said revolvablebody, another steel ring above said annular packing rings, stud boltsfor adjusting said packing rings, said shell, cap, revolvable body andwell casing having openings for the free passage of drill bits and drilltube sections therethru, equalizers radially swung by means to positionsaid drill tube sections centrally of a blow-out preventer apparatus anda well casing.

3. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a revolve- 51.

ble body seated in said shell, a race in said re- 'volvable body, ballbearings provided for said race, a cap attached to said shell topositively hold said revolvable body within said shell, oil

courses in said cap to lubricate said ball bearings, said revolvablebody having annular packing rings on the outer periphery thereof mountedon an annular steel ring, said steel ring mounted on ball bearings, saidball bearings being mounted on an outer shoulder of said revolvablebody, another steel ring above said annular packing rings, stud boltsfor adjusting said packing rings, said shell, cap, revolvable body andwell casing having openings for the free passage of drill bits and drilltube sections therethru, equalizers radially swung by means to positionsaid drill tube sections centrally of a blow-out preventer apparatus anda well casing, tapered wedge block members positioned in said revolvablebody, each tapered wedge block member connected to a guide arm, saidguide arms extend thru slots in the lower section of said revolvablebody, and attached at their lower ends to a washer for holding saidtapered wedge block members in uniform alignment, actuating arms androllers controlled by levers to impart movement to said washer and guidearms in forcing said tapered wedge block members upwardly, pin jointconnection. on said guide arms to allow longitudinal lateral movement tosaid wedgeblock members and vertical upward movement to said washer,said washer provided with an opening for the free passage of drill bitsand drill tube sections therethru,

4. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to aWell casing, a revolvable body seated in said shell, a race in saidrevolvable body, ball bearings provided for said race, a cap attached tosaid shell to positively hold said revolvable body within said shell,oil courses in said cap to lubricate said ball bearings, said revolvablebody having annular packing rings on the outerperiphery thereof mountedon an annular steel ring, said steel ring mounted on ball bearings, saidball bearings being mounted on an outer shoulder of said revolvablebody, another steel ring above said annular packing rings, stud boltsfor adjusting said packing rings, said shell, cap, revolvable body andwell casing having open.- lugs for the free passage of drill bits anddrill tube sections therethru, equalizers radially swung by means toposition said drill tube sections centrally of a blow-out preventerapparatus and a well casing, tapered wedge block members positioned insaid revolvable body, each tapered wedge block member connected to aguide arm, said guide arms extending thru slots in the lower section ofsaid revolvable body and attached at their lower ends to a washer forholding said tapered wedge block members in uniform alignment, actuatingarms and rollers controlled by levers to impart movement to said washerand guide arms in forcing said tapered wedge block members upwardly, pinjoint connection on said guide arms to allow longitudinal lateralmovement to said wedg'e block members and vertical upward movement tosaid washer, said washer provided with an opening for the free passageof drill bits and drill tube sections therethru, said drill tubesections and drill bits having openings thru which fluid under pressuremay pass interiorly thereof,

said fluid returning exteriorly thereof and interiorly of said well holeand casing and discharged thru outlets in said shell and means forregulating the return of said fluid.

5. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a revolvable body seated in said shell, packing meansbetween said revolvable body and said shell, said revolvable body havingmovable wedge block sealing members stationed therein, an actuator,connecting 5 means between the actuator and the wedge block sealingmembers adapted to beactuated to move the wedge block sealing membersinto operative sealed position about a drill tube section to cap a wellhole, said connecting means being inde- 10 pendent of said actuator andadapted for rotation in relation with said wedge block sealing members,revolvable body and drill tube sections as a hermetically sealed unit.

6. Ablow-out preventer apparatus comprising 15 a shell to be attached toa well casing, a revolvable body seated in said shell, said shell,revolvable body and well casing having openings for the passage of apipe and bit therethrough, packing means between said revolvable bodyand said 20 shell, said revolvable body having movable sealing membersstationed therein, an actuator, connecting means between the actuatorand the sealing members, roller bearings between the actuator and theconnecting means, said connecting means 25 adapted to be actuated tomove the sealing members into operative sealed position about a pipe tocap a well hole.

7. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a re 30 volvable body mounted on said shell, packingbetween the revolvable body and shell, said shell, revolvable body andwell casing having openings for the passage of a pipe and bit therethru,a seat in said opening in said revolvable body 35 adapted to receive aseal, sealing members adapted to be actuated simultaneously to seal theopening betweena pipe extending thru said revolvable body and said seattherein.

8. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising 40 a shell to be attachedto a well casing, a revolvable body mounted on said shell, packingbetween the revolvable body and shell, adjusting means for the packing,said shell, revolvable body and well casing having openings for thepassage 15 of a pipe and bit therethru, a seat in said opening in saidrevolvable body adapted to receive a seal, sealing members adapted to beactuated simultaneously to seal the opening between the revolvable bodyand a pipe extending therethru, 50 said pipe, sealing members andrevolvable body capable of being rotated as a sealed unit.

9. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a re volvable body mounted on said shell, packing be- 55tween .the revolvable body and shell, adjusting means for the packing,said shell, revolvable body and well casing having openings for thepassage of a pipe and bit therethru, wedge block sealing members whichmay be actuated simultaneously 60 longitudinally and laterally of saidrevolvable body and a pipe extending therethru to seal theopening'between the revolvable body and the pipe. 10. A blow-outpreventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to a well casing,a re 65 volvable body mounted on said shell, packing between therevolvable body and shell, adjusting means for the packing, said shell,revolvable body and well casing having openings for the passage of apipe and bit therethru, a section of 70 said opening in said revolvablebody being conical shaped, tapered wedge block sealing memberspositioned in said conical shaped section ofsaid revolvable body andadapted to be actuated simultaneously longitudinally and laterally ofsaid revolvable body and a pipe extending therethru toseal the openingbetween the revolvable body and the pipe.

11. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached toa well casing, a revolvable body mounted on said shell, packing betweenthe revolvable body and shell, said, shell, revolvable body and wellcasing having openings for the passage of a pipe and bit therethru, aseat in said opening in said revolvable body adapted to receive a seal,sealing members adapted to be actuated simultaneously to seal theopening between a pipe extending thru said revolvable body and the seatin said revolvable body, said sealing members adaptable as a frictionalclutch in imparting rotation from said pipe to said revolvable body.

12. A blow-out preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached toa well casing, said shell and well casing having openings for thepassage of a pipe and bit therethru, an actuator, sealing membersadapted to be actuated to seal the opening between said shell and a pipeextending therethru, equalizers attached to said actuator for centrallypositioning said pipe 01' the opening in said shell and well casing,said equalizers and sealing members adapted to be simultaneouslyactuated. 13. Wedge block sealing members for closing the opening in ablowout preventer apparatus wherein a. pipe extends through saidopening, a

seat formed in a section of said opening, said seat having a smallopening on one end and a large opening on the other end, said wedgeblock sealing members having a small end and a large end and adapted toseal the opening between the seat and the pipe and being so constructedthat when the small ends of said wedge block sealing members reach theirlimit in the small end or the seat that the large ends of the wedgeblock sealing members are adapted to be moved toward the small ends ofthe wedge block sealing members and the small end oi! the seat forpositively sealing the opening.

14. Wedge block sealing members for closing the opening in a blowoutpreventer apparatus wherein a pipe extends through said opening, aconical shaped seat formed in a section of said opening, said wedgeblock' sealing members each having a small end and a large end and soconstructed that when the small ends of the wedge block sealing membersreach their limit in the small end of the conical shaped seat that thelarge ends of thewedge block sealing members are adapted to be movedtoward the small ends oi! the wedge block sealing members and the smallend oi. the conical seat for positively sealing the open ing.

15. Wedge block sealing members closing the opening in a blowoutpreventer'apparatus wherein a pipe extends through said opening, a seatformed in a section of said opening, said seat having a small opening onone end and a large open-. ing on the other end, said wedge blocksealing members comprising end sections and packing elements betweensaid end sections and so constructed that when one end of the endsections of the wedge block sealing members and the packing elementsclose the opening between the seat and the pipe the other end sectionsof the wedge block sealing members are adapted to move toward the firstnamed end sections and the small end 01' the seat to tighten the packingelements for positively sealing said opening. 5

16. Wedge block sealing members for closing the opening in a blowoutpreventer apparatus wherein a pipe extends through said opening, saidwedge block sealing members adapted to seal the opening between the pipeand the blowout preventer apparatus and being so constructed that aportion of each wedge block sealing member may be limited in itsmovement in closing said opening while another portion 01' each wedgeblock sealing member may have further movement with- 15 in said openingwith respect to the limited portion of each wedge block sealing memberfor positively sealing said opening.

17. A blowout preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a revolvable 2 body seated on said shell, said shell,revolvable body and well casing having openings for the passage of apipe and bit therethrough, said revovable body having movable sealingmembers thereon, an actuator, connecting means between 25 the actuatorand the sealing members, anti-frictional bearings between the actuatorand the connecting means, said connecting, means adapted to be actuatedto move the sealing members into operative sealed position about a pipeto cap a well hole.

18. A blowout preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a revolvable body mounted on said shell, said shell,revolvable body and well casing having openings for the passage of apipe and bit therethrough,

a seat in said opening in said revolvable body adapted to receive aseal, sealing members adapted to be actuated simultaneously to seal theopening between a pipe extending through said revolvable body and saidseat therein.

19. A blowout preventer apparatus comprising a shell to be attached to awell casing, a revolvable body mounted on said shell, said shell,revolvable body and well casing having openings for the passage of apipe and bit therethrough, said pipe adapted to be rotated, a seat insaid opening in said revolvable body adapted to receive a seal, sealingmembers mounted on actuating means,

said sealing members adapted to be actuated to seal the opening betweenthe pipe and the seat, said actuating means non-rotative with'respect tothe pipe, said sealing members adapted to ro- LELAND P. KINNEAR.

